Posts Tagged ‘oral hygiene’

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Central Leeds dentist breaks link between gum disease and heart disease

Sunday, January 3rd, 2010

There has always been a suspected link between heart disease and gum disease but the evidence of recent studies has seemingly conclusively proved this connection. Patients with bad cases of gum disease were twice as likely to suffer from serious heart conditions, so cleaning your teeth and having healthy gums really could save your life.

The link between gum disease and heart disease comes from the transfer of the oral infection into the blood stream. Once this infection has spread into the blood vessels it can cause them to narrow putting enormous pressure on the heart, as it then has to work harder to pump blood around the body. In mild cases this can cause high blood pressure but if the heart becomes so overworked it can suffer a potentially fatal attack.

Gum disease is caused by a lack of proper oral hygiene in the mouth. Poor or ineffective oral hygiene allows bacteria to build up and form plaque. This filmy substance clings to the teeth and gums releasing damaging acids that break down tooth enamel and cause gum tissue to swell and become painful. In more serious cases of gum disease, known as periodontitis, gum tissue can become so infected that it bleeds and spreads the infection around the body. It also causes gum tissue to die resulting in tooth loss.

The good news about gum disease however, is that in most cases it is completely preventable with an improved regime of oral hygiene. Central Leeds dentists can demonstrate how to effectively clean your teeth to reduce your chances of gum disease, helping to keep your mouth and your heart healthy.

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Maintain good oral hygiene with regular check ups from Leeds dentist

Saturday, December 12th, 2009

Maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene can help keep teeth and gums healthy for life, reducing the risk of dental decay and gum disease and saving you from the pain and cost of dental treatment in the future. Oral hygiene is usually understood to mean keeping a clean and healthy mouth by regular brushing and flossing and by keeping up regular six-month check ups with the dentist.

Regular and effective brushing and flossing helps to remove plaque. This is a filmy, bacteria-rich substance that produces acids which erode the tooth enamel causing dental decay and eventually tooth loss. Plaque that is not removed by brushing and flossing also hardens and turns into tartar which cannot be removed by conventional cleaning methods and will need to be removed by a dentist using a process called scaling.

Other problems that can occur by not maintaining a good standard of oral hygiene include gum disease, also known as gingivitis. Gum disease is characterised by an inflamed and irritated gum that can be painful and even begin to bleed. Eventually gum tissue will start to shrink away from teeth exposing the vulnerable root. Gingivitis will eventually become the more serious periodontitis if left untreated. This is a more serious form of gum disease which may require antibiotic treatment or even surgery. Gum disease has also been linked to heart disease.

Tooth decay and gum disease can cause years of painful and costly dental treatment which can all be avoided by a few minutes a day of effective cleaning. Good oral hygiene can also help to prevent the 90 per cent of cases of bad breath caused by bacteria allowed to grow in the mouth.

Eating habits can also affect oral hygiene with food with a high concentration of sugar being particularly damaging to teeth. Low sugar food and food such as fruit with a high fibre content stimulate saliva production which helps to keep teeth healthy.

It is also important to regularly visit the dentist for check ups. Dentists can undertake thorough teeth cleaning and offer advice on how best to maintain good oral hygiene. A Leeds dentist will also be able to treat the first signs of any tooth decay or gum disease and help to keep your teeth strong and healthy.

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Prevent gum disease by visiting City of Leeds dentist

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Gum disease, or gingivitis as it is also known, can be caused when bacteria is allowed to build up in the mouth which causes the gums to become infected. This usually manifests itself in painful, irritating and swollen gums that if left untreated it can become periodontitis and lead to wider infection and tooth loss.

If gum disease has become the more serious periodontitis the dentist will usually have to prescribe anti-biotics to treat the infection. In some serious cases they might even have to perform a gingivectomy and remove some of the infected tissue. Gum disease can be a serious problem that can cause months and years of pain and costly dental procedures but it is completely preventable.

The first line of defence against gum disease is effective cleaning and good standards of oral hygiene. By brushing twice a day for three minutes and flossing at least once a day you can significantly reduce the risk of gum disease. Having regular check ups every six months with your dentist is also crucial in the war against gum disease. Avoiding any kind of tobacco product also helps to reduce the risk factor from gum disease as it can prevent the gum’s natural ability to heal itself.

These preventative measures all help to prevent the build of plaque, a filmy layer of bacteria that coats the teeth and gums and causes infection. If not removed plaque can become tartar which is impossible to remove by conventional methods, and will need a dental hygienist to remove it in a process called scaling.

Gum disease can be a nasty and irritating condition that can require lengthy and uncomfortable treatment, not to mention money and stress. By remembering the easy steps to prevent gum disease you could save yourself the pain of gum disease. Brush, floss and visit a City of Leeds dentist every six months.

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Keep your breath fresh everyday by visiting a Leeds dentist

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Everyone wants to have fresh breath, but the chances are that all of us, at one time or another, has suffered form bad breath. You’ve all seen the adverts on TV promising minty fresh breath all day and all night by using certain gum or mouthwash products but the reality is slightly different. Although these products will mask the smell of bad breath, they don’t prevent the causes of it, and more than likely you will notice it coming back. The only real weapon against bad breath is to take preventative measures. This almost always involves maintaining good standards of oral hygiene.

While it is true that some cases of bad breath, or halitosis as it is otherwise known, are caused by intestinal or digestive problems, over 90 per cent of cases are caused by poor standards of oral hygiene such as inadequate brushing or lack of flossing. In fact, most cases of bad breath are caused by an excess of bacteria in the mouth. The mouth is one of the dirtiest places in the human body, which while unpleasant, is unfortunately true. The conditions in the oral cavity are perfect for bacteria to thrive. Astonishingly, over 500 million bacteria live on the human tongue alone, in the warm and moist grooves of the surface. Food particles get trapped between the gaps in teeth, where normal brushes find it hard to reach, and when they decay release foul smelling sulphurous compounds which are one of the major causes of bad breath.

To combat these bacteria, Leeds dentists recommend that you brush your teeth correctly twice a day, for at least three minutes. Flossing once a day is also essential to remove decaying food matter form the parts conventional brushing cannot reach. It is also advisable to use a special tongue cleaning brush, as most toothbrushes are ineffective at thoroughly cleaning the tongue because the bristles are too soft. Effective cleaning can help to fight plaque, which is a filmy substance full of bacteria that covers the teeth causing bad breath and cavities, so not only will good cleaning keep your breath fresh, but it will also protect your teeth. Definitely two birds with one stone.

At your next dental check up, ask your Leeds dentist about the most effective methods of keeping your teeth and mouth free of bacteria and you can have that feeling of fresh breath confidence everyday.

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City of Leeds dentist replaces missing tooth with dental bridge

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

For patients suffering from a missing tooth or teeth, one cosmetic procedure that can restore the appearance of a full set is a dental bridge. By bonding a dental bridge to existing teeth either side of the gap, a dentist can create a natural looking and seamless artificial bridge.

Dental bridges are a tried and tested method of cosmetic dentistry that not only enhance the visual appearance of the teeth but can have other more significant and long lasting benefits. If left untreated, the gaps left by missing teeth can have adverse effects on the remaining natural teeth of a patient. Teeth either side of the hole will naturally lean into the empty space. This will have a negative effect on the bite and profile of the patient and can cause sagging of the facial muscles giving a sunken appearance. Even slight adjustments in bite can lead to uncomfortable irritation and unconscious teeth grinding, known as bruxism, which can have very detrimental effects on the teeth. It is also common for bacteria to thrive in the hollows left by missing teeth unless a very strict regime of oral hygiene is observed.

The three main types of dental bridge are the traditional fixed bridge – when the bridge is attached to two crowns, one either side of the bridge; the resin bonded bridge – when the bridge is bonded to existing teeth with metal strips and composite resin usually for patients with healthy existing teeth; and the cantilever bridge – when there are only existing teeth on one side of the missing tooth and the bridge needs to be secured to two or more teeth on that side. A City of Leeds dentist will be able to assess which bridge will be most effective for you.

Usually requiring several visits to the dentist to fit, a dental bridge is usually a fairly pain-free procedure that can restore the appearance of natural teeth for up to seven years, with good cleaning, oral hygiene and regular check ups with a City of Leeds dentist.

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Central Leeds dentist helps patients beat bad breath

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

At one time or another, whether we are aware of it or not, we all will have suffered from bad breath. Bad breath, or halitosis as it is otherwise known, can strike anyone at any time unless you take preventative measures. Mouthwashes and chewing gum can mask the smell of bad breath but they don’t get to the causes so it is likely to return. Because it is so difficult to tell if your breath smells (we’ve all done the hand cupping move at some point) only a strong regime of preventative measures can alleviate the anxiety that you have bad breath.

People commonly believe that bad breath is caused by internal issues, such as poor digestion or stomach issues, but this is generally not the case. Studies have shown that nine cases out of ten are caused by poor standards of oral hygiene. Food matter that gets caught in the gaps between teeth can start to decay when acted upon by bacteria in the mouth. This releases foul smelling sulfurous compounds which can be one of the main causes of halitosis. Bacteria thrive in the human mouth, where conditions for them are almost perfect. There are over 500 million on the human tongue alone where they live in the warm and moist crevices. This bacteria can also build up in a filmy substance called plaque that covers the teeth and decays the enamel. This bacteria and plaque live on decaying organic matter so the more you have in your mouth the more it is going to smell.

The most effective way to deal with bad breath is to make sure you are brushing your teeth correctly, twice a day, for three minutes. As well as this you should be flossing once a day. Flossing helps to clean small gaps in the teeth that conventional brushes can’t reach. This can remove the decaying food particles which cause many cases of bad breath. Using a mouthwash may also help kill bacteria but only as part of a wider oral hygiene routine.

Bad breath can be a warning sign that your oral hygiene needs improving. Ask a Central Leeds dentist about the correct ways to brush and floss at your next check up. They can also recommend the most suitable brush for your teeth. Just a few minutes extra cleaning a day could help you keep bad breath away for good.

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Central Leeds dentist replaces missing tooth with dental bridge

Sunday, September 13th, 2009

When a tooth is missing because it has decayed or has been knocked out in an accident, it leaves a space in the tooth line. This space can be detrimental to remaining teeth and oral hygiene as a whole. Existing teeth tend to lean into the space created by the missing tooth. It can also cause sagging of the facial tissue, specifically if there is more than one tooth missing.

One of the options to replace a missing tooth is to have a dental bridge fitted by a dentist. A dental bridge is an artificial tooth, or teeth, that is anchored onto the existing teeth either side of the gap. The artificial tooth, known as the pontic from the Latin word ‘bridge’, is fused between two crowns which bridges the gap of the missing tooth, creating the appearance of a full set of teeth.

Dental bridges therefore serve the cosmetic purpose of recreating a full set of teeth, but also have further cosmetic advantages as mentioned above. A bridge can also help maintain a healthy looking profile and prevent alterations in bite, which can cause irritation. Gaps left by missing teeth are also breeding grounds for bacteria which cause gum disease and tooth decay. Food particles can accumulate there and break down. Bacteria feed on these particles and form plaque, a substance which covers the teeth causing cavities. A dental bridge will fill this hole and prevent this build up, keeping your teeth and mouth healthy.

There are three main types of dental bridge that can be used depending on the individual situation of the patient. The most commonly used is the traditional fixed bridge. This (as described above) is when a ceramic pontic is secured by two crowns on either side of the gap. Resin bonded bridges are bridges fused to existing teeth by strips of metal. This type of bridge is used when the existing teeth are in a healthy and strong condition and don’t require crowns. Lastly, the cantilever bridge is used when there are only existing teeth on one side of the gap. Two or more crowns will then be needed to secure a dental bridge.

A dental bridge will usually require several visits to the dentist to fit, as any crowns or resin bonding will need to set before the bridge can be attached to it. Central Leeds dentists can advise you on whether a dental crown is suitable for you and give an idea as to prices. If a dental bridge is suitable for you it can literally bring the smile back to your face and if looked after correctly can last up to seven years. call 0113 245 4868 for a consultation with Dr Gakhal.

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